Protective effects of buloxibutid and empagliflozin on hypertension-induced cardiac and vascular injury in rats.

This study aims to see the individual and combined effects of Angiotensin II type 2 (AT2) receptor agonist buloxibutid (also known as Compound 21 or C21) and sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor empagliflozin (EMPA) on effects of hypertension (HT), which is common today, on the heart, and vascular tissue. Male rats of the Sprague Dawley were divided into 5 groups: Control (C) group, HT group, HT + C21 group, HT + EMPA group and HT + C21 + EMPA group. After the protocol was completed, hemodynamic measurements were taken and heart and aorta tissues were evaluated biochemically, histopatologically and immunohistochemically. When the mean blood pressure (BP) values were compared, the mean BP of the HT group increased significantly compared to the C group (p < 0.05). Superoxide dismutase, glutathione and glutathione peroxidase activities in the heart, glutathione and catalase activities in the descending aorta were significantly higher in all treated groups compared to the HT group (p < 0.05). In the HT + C21 + EMPA group, histopathological damage score in hematoxylin-eosin (HE) stained heart sections compared to the HT group showed a decrease in tissue damage but cell infiltration was still observed. When HE staining method was applied, it was determined that the thoracic aorta sections in group C had normal histologic structure. In the HT group, dilatation in some parts and irregularities in elastic lamellae were observed. It was observed that the treated groups were similar to group C. When considering the individual and combined effects of C21 and EMPA, positive results on heart and vascular tissue were observed by hemodynamic, biochemical and histopathological analyses.